It is with great joy that we announce the opening of applications for the 2023 edition of the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Program!

After the successful outcomes of the 2022 edition, which empowered a worldwide cohort of 162 climate ambassadors to execute more than 300 climate actions in their communities at the local and global levels, it is YOUR turn to make a difference.

The example set by our dear friend and colleague Max Thabiso Edkins, who was a climate champion par excellence and a world-renowned driver of youth-led climate action, continues to inspire young people to step up their ambition and pursue their visions of a sustainable future. 

To honor Max’s legacy and continue his work empowering young climate leaders, Connect4Climate is partnering once again with the Global Youth Climate Network (GYCN), an initiative of the Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) community of young professionals at the World Bank Group, to launch the 2023 edition of the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Program (MTECAP).

The MTECAP is a six-month online program that catalyzes youth climate leadership by enabling participants to: connect with one another; learn from World Bank experts and GYCN and C4C knowledge partners; and take meaningful climate action both in their communities and globally. The program offers a mix of technical and hands-on sessions providing the young ambassadors with in-depth knowledge and understanding of climate change and the related challenges explored in the World Bank Group Climate Change Action Plan as well as guidance on how to creatively communicate their newfound knowledge for maximal impact.

By the conclusion of the program, each participant will be expected to have attended a predefined number of learning sessions and implemented three concrete climate actions in their community. All those who meet these criteria will graduate and receive a certificate of completion.

If you are passionate about our planet and ready to make a change, find out exactly what it takes to become a Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador below!

Applications will remain open until 11:59 PM EST on December 17th, 2022. We wish you the best of luck!

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, have strong conversational English language skills, and have reliable access to the internet. Beyond these foundational requirements, applicants will be evaluated on each of the following criteria:

• Past and current experience as a youth leader in communities at the local, regional, national, or global level. Demonstrated ability to organize community activities is an advantage.

• Passion for climate solutions and sustainable development, and motivation to take action and empower others. We are looking for self-starters willing to take charge.

• Scale and strength of the applicant’s network and active presence on social media.

• The potential impact of the applicant’s proposed contributions to their communities and networks.

The evaluation and selection process will also take into account various other factors—such as diversity in age, gender, and geography—to ensure the set of chosen Ambassadors closely reflects the global community.

EXPECTATIONS:

As a participant in the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Program, you will be expected to Learn, Act, Network and Engage.

Learn: learn from World Bank Group experts and GYCN and C4C knowledge partners on the most pressing climate issues across various sectors, and gain solid leadership skills with which to inspire and empower others in your community.

Act: commit to achieving at least three climate actions in your community.

Network: connect with like-minded youth across the globe to learn, exchange ideas, develop joint initiatives and projects, and amplify your impact.

Engage: upon completion of the Program, join an active Global Alumni Community of Climate Ambassadors to help you continue your climate journey.

This ambassadorship is an awesome opportunity that comes with real responsibilities. In order to receive certificates of completion and be invited to join the Alumni Community, participants in the Program must:

• Commit ~3 hours per week to Program activities between February and August 2023.

• Attend the mandatory opening and closing sessions, weekly online learning sessions (at least ⅔ of the total number of sessions — we expect to offer eight or more), and creative communications and storytelling sessions offered by Connect4Climate.*

• Complete at least three climate-related actions in their communities and provide documentation thereof (photos, videos, online mentions, etc.) to GYCN.

• Participate in a dedicated Telegram channel where the GYCN team will share programmatic updates and opportunities from its partner network.

• Join networking sessions and actively participate in GYCN social media campaigns.

*Before applying for the Program, please ensure your calendar allows you to attend one-hour sessions every Thursday from March-May. Note as well that the scheduling of sessions is subject to change according to speaker availability. 

Your most notable climate actions will be featured directly on GYCN’s social media platforms, and all alumni of the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Program will be offered full ongoing access to invaluable expert and peer networks as well as all the latest updates on GYCN and C4C educational events. Plus, there is always the possibility of future support for your work on the ground and invitations to cohost climate discussions yourself!

Please note that, as a volunteer organization, GYCN is unable to facilitate the allocation of any funding to Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassadors. The strict focus of the MTECAP is nonmonetary capacity building.

If you encounter technical issues with the Google Form, do not hesitate to contact the GYCN team at gycn@worldbankgroup.org. They will happily coordinate with you on getting your application submitted.